Destinations a mere two hours (or less!) from Seattle.

The journey: Barely east of Issaquah, only a few miles up a Fall City road? This is road tripping for people who hate driving.

The destination: It’s hard to beat the appeal of log cabins wedged into towering Douglas fir trees, but the established hoteliers endear themselves further by only opening reservations 60 days out—meaning a serene retreat is, at most, two months away.

The journey:Even when commuter traffic jams I-90, the ride to the Snoqualmie Falls hotel is never difficult.

The destination: Long an austere hotel with a whiff of country club solemnity, the Salish has held to old traditions—like the “honey from heaven” drizzled over breakfast biscuits—while adding features like a waterfall-side spa.

The journey: Not gonna lie, this I-5 journey wouldn’t grace a postcard, but the fancy B&B is minutes from the south-of-Tacoma off-ramp.

The destination: The giant Tudor Gothic–style mansion is a century old, but the stained glass artworks inside are even older. Though there’s no sprawling estate around Thornewood to match—other than a small sunken garden and some lakefront—it’s the ideal spot to hole up in a four-poster bed.

The journey: Once past Everett, drivers can relax as the freeway congestion loosens into the Skagit Valley, then enjoy the scenery when the route bends onto empty rural roads into wee La Conner.

The destination: Like the art galleries and antique dealers that define the town, the Channel Lodge is soothing and classic. If the cedar-shake siding and channel-front balconies are somehow not charming enough, nearby La Conner Country Inn from the same owners is even cozier.